One of the struggles of having a pool is having to clean and maintain it. Having a cloudy pool is not at all inviting, and it is also very non-hygienic. It would be nice knowing how to clean cloudy pool water on your own and not wait for someone else to do it for you. In this article, I will discuss how to clear cloudy pool water, why the water gets dark in the first place, and prevent it from being cloud and dirty.
What Causes All the Cloud?
Before you could ever learn how to clear cloudy pool water, first, you must know what causes all those clouds in the first place.
Chemical Imbalances
The ultimate cause is the chemical imbalances present in the pool water. It usually stems from high levels of bromine and phosphate from chlorine or cyanuric acid.
That is why you need to check the charts when you are using cyanuric acid to keep your pool clean because bacteria can convert that chemical into ammonia.
Calcium
One other thing that causes cloudy pool water is the amount of calcium in your pool. Excessive amounts of calcium accumulated in the pool will lead to murky water. And, the worse thing about this is that the cloud caused by calcium won’t quickly get cleared and it can clog your filters.
Alkaline
Next, we have the total amount of alkaline in the pool water. High Alkalinity causes high volumes of calcium and low pH levels, and both cause cloud in the pool water.
pH and Chlorine Levels
Now we have the last and the most common cause of cloudy pool water, one that you must know if you want to learn how to clear cloudy pool water.
The pH and the chlorine levels in your pool must be balanced or must not reach excessive or low levels to maintain the clearness.
High pH levels can cause calcium accumulation, which in turn causes cloudy water and even clogged filters. In contrast, low pH levels make the chlorine very reactive, causing it to deplete rapidly.
Depleted chlorine causes cloudy pool water making it useless when it comes to killing bacteria and other contaminants.
How to Clear Cloudy Pool Water
This time, I will discuss how to clear cloudy pool water, which comprises different steps for different causes or scenarios.
Know What Caused the Clouds
First, you will need Test strips to check the balance of chemicals in your pool and know what caused the cloudiness in the first place.
Knowing what caused the cloud in the pool water will help you determine how to clear cloudy pool water quickly.
Clarifier
After testing, if you come up with no results, and I mean when the strips or the tests say that the chemicals in your pool water are balanced, or that the filters aren’t clogged, all you have to do is to purchase a water clarifier and use it on your pool water.
Water clarifiers serve as that boost that your pool water needs to stay clean and cloud-free, and sometimes, it’s all you need to maintain the cleanliness of your pool water.
Circulation
The filtration system and the circulation of the pool water are things that you need to check if you want to know how to clear cloudy pool water.
You have to check and clean the pump and skimmer baskets regularly, and then find time to review your pressure gauge in the pool filters. You can either let professionals take care of backwashing, cleaning and replacing the filter media.
Absence of Chlorine
After testing the water and it shows no chlorine or low chlorine levels, you will have to use calcium hypochlorite shock to treat your pool water.
You can purchase products for this treatment to effectively clear the pool water of any contaminants and organic materials that cause cloudy water.
TAC and FAC
The difference between the water’s total available chlorine and the free available chlorine levels will have to treat the pool water with a non-chlorine shock, which you can purchase products for.
Wrap Up
Having a pool is the best, especially during the hot or summer seasons. However, you will also need to take care of the pool and ensure that it is cleaned and well-maintained. That is why I discussed how to clear cloudy pool water and guidelines on how to maintain it. Remember, the foundation of maintaining a clean and clear pool water all lies in testing, regular maintenance, and cleaning. Find out more about pools.